Electrical connecter



Sept. 15, 1931.

c. A. BAY

ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed Feb. 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l BYKZJZIZQ Se t. 15, 1931. BAY 1,823,677

ELECTRICAL CONNECTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1930 ATTOR NEY -electrical connection between 'MTE STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES A. BAY, OF MORBISTOWN, NEW JERSEY ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Application filed February 26, 1930. Serial No. 431,358.

The invention relates to an improvement in electrical connecters of the type used chiefly for holding together two ormore wires of conductors and so establishing an them. Although the invention is particularly concerned with the joining together of electrical conductors, whether two or more wires, or wires with a 'T-tap connection, it will be understood that the improved connecter con stituting the invention can to equal advantage be used for holding together wires, ropes, guys, rods, and the like, used for other purposes.

Joining together two or more electrical wires or conductors quickly, efliciently and cheaply has presented a problem which has grown in seriousness with the growth of electrical conductors in size. hen the current of electricity is small requiring only a small wire, a satisfactory connection between the wires can be efiected by twisting them together. Other methods consist in soldering the wires, or securing them between two washers held against the wires by means of a bolt and nut. Such methods, and other well known methods, have proven unsatisfactory in case of the larger and heavier wires and conductors required for present day service, either because such joints or connections are too weak, or be cause they are ineflicient conductors, or because they are too expensive either to make or put to use.

An eflicient but expensive connecter for heavy conductors consists in a bolt-like screw, bifurcated to receive the wires and provided with a tongued washer to prevent the threaded sides or legs of the device from collapsing when the nut is screwed down against the wires. One object of the present invention is to improve the construction and arrangement of the parts of connecters of this type so that they can be produced more cheaply. Another object of the invention is to so construct the improved connecter that when it is placed on one of the wires it will remain in position, thereby permitting the service man the free use of both hands in making the connection. Other ob.-

jects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. To the accomplishment of these objects the invention consists in the improved connecter hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred -form of the invention, Fig.1 is a side elevation of the improved connecter disassembled, the spring being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1 in assembled condition holding two wires or conductors, Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the connecter; Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device shownin condition for receiv-' ing the wires'or conductors; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form ofdevice; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the device shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view simi lar to Fig. 7 but taken at right angles thereto; Fig. 9 is a bottom plan of the device shown'in Fig. 6-; and Fig. 10 is a top plan of the device'shown in Fig. 6.

The improved electrical connecter of the present invention as illustrated in the draw ings comprises a main member consisting of two parts normally resiliently held together, the abutting faces of the parts being pro vided with recesses which constitute an aperture adapted to receive the elements, that is, the wires or conductors, to be held together, and means for pressing the elements together and thereby holding them in the member. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the improved connecter comprises a member consisting of the cooperating parts 11 and 12 the inner opposed faces 13 of which are normally held in contact with each other, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of a flat spring 14 which bears against the outer end of a head '15 formed on one end of the member. The spring 14 is provided with the two holes 16 for receiving the lugs 17 projecting outwardly from the head 15. hen the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig. '2, the outer ends of the lugs 17 are riveted over. In the inner face of each part 11 and 12 is formed a recess 18 which, when the parts are assembled, constitute an aperture 19 adapted to receive the elements 20 to be held together. One end of the aperture 19 terminates at the head 15 which is grooved at 26 to receive one of the elements 20. If the connector is to be used in a situation in which it is not convenient to slip the wires endwise into the aperture 19 the free ends of the parts 11 and 12 of the member are separated, as shown in Fig. 5, and the wires or other elements to be held together are introduced into the aperture 19 between the separated ends. hen the force holding the ends of the parts separated is released the spring 1% closes the parts upon one another. The washer 22 is then slipped over the free end of the member until the groove 23 in the washer contacts with the outermost of the elements in the aperture 19. Thereupon the nut 24 is screwed down onto the threaded free end of the member and holds all the parts firmly together with the elements tightly pressed against each other, establishing an efiicient electrical contact between them. In order to prevent the free ends of the parts 11 and 12 of the member from working sidewise of each other their inner faces are provided with the cooperating lugs and recesses 25, one face being provided with a lug and a recess and the other face being provided with an oppositely disposed recess and lug, respectively.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive the bipartite member is composed of the parts 27 and 28 the inner surfaces or faces 29 of which are normally held in contact by the spring 30 mounted on the outer end of the head portion 32 of the bipartite member. The spring 30 is held in lace against the outer end of the sections of the head 32 by means of the riveted lugs 33. In the inner face of each part 27 and 28 of the member is formed a recess which together constitute the aperture 3% adapted to receive the wires or other elements 35 to be held together. The elements 35 are insertable into the aperture 34 transversely by separating the free ends of the parts 27 and 28, as in the form of invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5. To prevent the free ends of the parts 27 and 28 from moving sideways their inner surfaces are provided with the cooperating lugs and recesses 36. As thus far clescribed this form of the invention is the same as the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

The means for holding the wires or other elements 35 together in the aperture 34: in the form of the invention shown in Figs. (3 to 10 comprises the following parts The inner end of the head 32 is provided with sloping walls or sides 38 which are preferably the sides of a polygonal pyramid, conveniently a six-sided one. The lower or inner end 39 of the aperture 3 1 extends into the tapered inner end of the head, as shown in Fig. 8. To prevent the innermost of the wires or elements 3-5 from direct contact with the head 32 I provide a washer 40 having a central hole fashioned in conformity with the sloping sides ,of the inner end 38 of the head and adapted to be seated thereon. On the inner face of the washer 4:0 is a groove 41 against which the lower or innermost of the elements rests. he wires or elements 35 are pressed against each other and against the washer L0 by a grooved upper or outer washer &2 held in place by a nut l3 screwed onto the outer threaded end ,of the bipartite member. The washer 40 by embracing the tapered inner end of the head 32 takes the thrust exerted on the elements 35 by the washer 42 and nut 43 and holds the parts of the head 32 together. This form of the invention may be employed in those cases where the forces employed are too heavy for the form of connection shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new is 1. A device of the character described comprising a member consisting of two parts having inner, opposed faces, each of said faces having a recess, resilient means for holding the parts in operative relation so that the recesses constitute an aperture adapted to receive a plurality of elements, and means carried by the member for pressing the elements against each other and securing them in the member.

2. A device of the character described comprising a member consisting of two parts having inner faces, resilient means for hold ing said faces against each other, said faces being provided with an aperture adapted to receive a plurality of elements insertable in the aperture by separating the free ends of the parts, and means carried by the member for pressing the elements against each other and securing them in the member.

3. A device of the character described comprising a member consisting of two parts having inner faces, each of said faces having a recess, resilient means for holding the parts in operative relation so that the recesses constitute an aperture adapted to receive a plurality of elements, one end of the member beingformed as a head and the other end of the member being threaded, and a nut carried by the threaded end of the member adapted to press the elements against the head and thereby hold them in the member.

at. A device of the character described comprising a member consisting of two parts having inner faces, each of said faces having a recess, one end of said member being formed as a head, spring means connected with the head for holding the inner faces of the parts against each other so that the recesses constitute an aperture adapted to receive a plurality of elements insertable in the aperture by separating the free ends of the parts, and means carried by the member for pressing the elements against the head and thereby holding them in the memher.

5. A device of the character described comprising a member consisting of two parts having inner contacting faces, one end of the member being formed as a head the inner end of which has sloping sides, resilient means connected with the head for holding the inner faces of the two parts against each other, said faces having an aperture adapted to receive a plurality of elements inserted in the aperture by separating the free ends of the parts, a washer having a hole tapered in conformity with the sloping sides of the head seated on said sloping sides, and means for forcing the elements against the washer and thereby holding them in the member.

6. A device of the character described comprising a member consisting of two parts having contacting inner faces, one end of the member being formed as a head the in ner end of which has sloping sides, the outer end of said head being flat, a flat spring connected with the outer end of the head for holding the inner faces of the parts against each other, said inner faces being provided with an aperture one end of which extends to the sloping inner end of the head,

' said aperture being adapted to receive a plurality of elements, a washer having a'hole tapered in conformity with the sloping sides of the inner end of the head seated on said sides, and means carried by the free end of the member for forcing the elements against the washer and thereby holding them in the member.

7. A device of the character described comprising a member consisting of two parts having inner contacting faces, one end of the member being formed as a head the inner end of which is non-circular and has sloping faces, resilient means connected with the head for holding the two parts of the member in operative relation, said inner faces of the two parts being provided with an aperture one end of which extends to the sloping inner end of the head, said aperture being adapted to receive a plurality of elements, a washer having a hole with tapered sides corresponding to the tapered sides of the inner end of the head seated on said sloping sides of the head, and means including a washer and a nut carried by the free end of the member for pressing the elements against the first washer and thereby holding the elements in the member.

CHARLES A. BAY. 

